England bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes, whose main job is to pick wickets at the regular intervals is not intimidated to try himself upfront on challenging wickets in the United Kindom (UK). As the ICC World Cup is 13-odd days away, the essential player for hosts England is optimistic on his maiden mission to the ODI showpiece. He has suggested the bowlers to bowl with an attacking mindset. Well, the wickets are highly-likely going to be featherbed in England, this summer.
The 30-year-old Birmingham born right-arm fast-bowler Woakes is seen as a vital prospect for the Three Lions. Besides, he can play a handy role with the bat which adds more to the already strong England batting line-up.
Bowlers need to bowl with attacking mindset at the ICC World Cup 2019: Chris Woakes
Recently, the No.1 ODI ranked team England has done an outstanding job while chasing the targets. The bowlers have equally stepped up. But, Woakes is keen to see aggression from the bowlers in the upcoming ICC World Cup which will begin from May 30 in London.
The improving bowler Woakes conceded that the bowlers need to bowl with an attacking mindset. He added the attacking instinct would allow bowlers to do their best in the quadrennial event.
Woakes also maintained if the bowlers would opt for a defensive approach, it would undoubtedly give a leeway to the batsmen for making most of the opportunity.
“I think you have to try to be aggressive as a bowler or at least have a bit of an aggressive mindset to take wickets. Because we all know as bowlers, when you get into that defensive mindset and you are just thinking purely about damage limitation that’s probably when you are at your most vulnerable,” Woakes said after the match,” Woakes told English media.
In the ongoing series against Pakistan, England are leading the five-match series with batsmen do most in the eased out conditions on than bowlers.
Meanwhile, Woakes reiterated he often backs himself to bowling with an attacking mindset. He added he will certainly do it during the County stint while speaking about England’s top seven batters. Woakes remarked that he would aim to pick wickets rather than opting for a defensive approach.
“Always trying to take that attacking approach is probably the best way. And if I ever had to bowl at them (England’s top seven), which I probably will do in county cricket at some point, I’d try to get them out. However, that is,” Woakes added.
Woakes on visiting bowlers:
However, Woakes is convinced that visitors have done their homework in a bid to wrestle at the ODI showpiece. He added most of the bowlers have featured in the Indian Premier League where many boast about the placid surfaces.
“They (bowlers from visiting teams) must have been playing the amount of cricket we have as well. They know the white-ball game’ obviously got harder for the bowlers. A lot of players have played in the IPL and things like that — bit of a graveyard for the bowlers,” Woakes further added.
Besides, Woakes puts forth his prediction that the forthcoming World Cup will witness high-scoring games. He is confident that the high-scoring spree won’t surprise the people.
“I think they know that it’s going to be probably a high-scoring World Cup, particularly at certain grounds. But I don’t think it will be a shock to many people,” Woakes concluded.
Woakes, who bagged four wickets in the third ODI at Bristol, is hopeful to leave an impact when England begins their World Cup campaign against South Africa in London.